WARREN — Warren Municipal Court Judge Natasha Natale is taking the wheel to help residents with suspended driver’s licenses.

A new initiative, the “Steering Clear Warren Suspended License Intervention Workshop,” provides a path for individuals to understand their license suspensions and overcome barriers to reinstatement, offering vital resources that can prevent future legal complications.

“Steering Clear is a workshop to help individuals with suspended licenses understand why their licenses are suspended and identify the steps to restore them,” Natale said.

Supported by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and volunteer attorneys, Steering Clear provides participants with printed details of their license suspensions and one-on-one guidance from volunteers on reinstating their licenses.

Natale noted that the city waived all fees associated with hosting the event, ensuring no cost barriers for participants.

“We brought people in individually to discuss in detail the steps needed to address their suspensions,” Natale said.

In addition to license restoration assistance, the workshop connects participants with Ohio Means Jobs, Goodwill and Community Legal Aid. It also provides support in areas such as job placement, child support, expungements and filing Certificates of Qualification for Employment (CQEs).

“Ohio Means Jobs was there to guide people toward new career paths and job opportunities,” Natale said.

Kim Massary, deputy director of NEOCAP, (Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program) said the program provides support and resources to individuals as an alternative to incarceration, and helps them address issues like license suspensions and employment barriers.

“Driver’s licenses and the ability to get them back are huge barriers for many. It’s essential to provide opportunities for people to understand what’s holding their licenses up and how to restore them,” she said, adding that participants left the event with clear steps to follow, with many learning that unpaid fines were a significant obstacle.

Natale intends to hold the workshop quarterly, moving to different locations around Warren to increase accessibility.

“I want this workshop to reach all areas within our jurisdiction,” she said.

Massary also observed that many residents arrived unaware of the layers of obstacles they faced, including fines, additional suspensions, and reinstatement fees. “People often think it’s just a matter of going to the BMV, but for many, there are multiple roadblocks to overcome,” she said.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, with residents and community partners, such as Second Baptist Church, providing transportation assistance. Judge Natale considers Steering Clear a proactive measure to reduce driving-related offenses that often lead to court cases. “This approach aims to keep people out of court by preventing issues before they arise,” she said.